Ebook Buying Addicts' Support Thread

[Tarana]

Pdurrant, perhaps I missed it in an earlier thread, but how do you tag new purchases in Calibre? Just a special tag (new-2013) or using a column?

[corroonb]

I should probably post in here. I've been taking advantage of (or been taken advantage by) the Kobo discount codes specifically the unlimited 50% code. I've purchased over thirty books in the last week including many of my favourite titles like the Lord of the Rings, the Gormenghast trilogy and three trilogies of Robin Hobb's best work. These should last me for the next year at least and I'll reread them many times in the future as I have already. I know this sounds like a lot and it is but I usually buy in bulk once or twice a year to take advantage of discounts codes and sales.

In the future I'll allow myself one ebook purchase each week and these will all be books I want that can't be discounted. This includes books by Richard Morgan, Joe Abercrombie, Scott Lynch, Patrick O'Brian, Dostoyevsky (the Pevear/Volokhonsky translations), KJ Parker, Richard Yates, Desmond Morris, Iain Banks and the Penguin 3 Volume Complete edition of the Arabian Nights.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Pdurrant, perhaps I missed it in an earlier thread, but how do you tag new purchases in Calibre? Just a special tag (new-2013) or using a column?

I've added some extra columns. Price paid, Where bought and Read. I use the built-in date column for the date I bought the book, and I've added a custom date column for published date, although I'm not brilliant at filling that one in.

I buy a book, load it into calibre, and the date column then shows the purchase date, unless I neglect to load it in on the same day, in which case I amend the date.

If I really intend to read it, I mark it as unread. If I've bought something I've read before, but will re-read at some indeterminate date, I mark it read. For freebies I leave the read column undefined.

[BelleZora]

pdurrant, for a couple of seconds I was amazed that my Calibre columns are set up exactly like yours. Then I recalled how often I've taken your advice in the past. Works splendidly. Thank you.

[Tarana]

Well, I will try that. Now, I'll have to figure out how to install a column......

[Fbone]

I slipped a little today. Kobo enticed me with a 95% off code. For 40 cents I removed another title from my "to buy" list.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I slipped a little today. Kobo enticed me with a 95% off code. For 40 cents I removed another title from my "to buy" list.

Can't argue with a 95% off coupon.

[PurpleStar]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I slipped a little today. Kobo enticed me with a 95% off code. For 40 cents I removed another title from my "to buy" list.

That one got me too. I bought a book for 42 cents. I couldn't resist the 50% off code either.

[bookaho!ic]

yep got me too - got the new Karl Pilkington one for 46p

[corroonb]

The 95% code didn't work for me but I couldn't let the 75% code go to waste.

[pdurrant]

I'm saved. Nothing I want works with the codes.

22 days without an ebook purchase! I might make it to December 1st after all!

[birdbrainbb]

I went a little bit insane with the Kobo coupons. I got 61 books! But it's okay: most of them were on my wish list and the others cost so little that "splurging" $0.60 for an unknown-to-me author isn't a big deal.

I'm actually really excited about all my new books-- I haven't had a shopping spree like that in a good while.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by birdbrainbb

I went a little bit insane with the Kobo coupons. I got 61 books! But it's okay: most of them were on my wish list and the others cost so little that "splurging" $0.60 for an unknown-to-me author isn't a big deal.

I'm actually really excited about all my new books-- I haven't had a shopping spree like that in a good while.

I hope your TBR before the spree was very small!

Of course, the books on your wish list are fine. There were/are some very good Kobo discounts.

But do be cautious of buying lots of unknown authors, just because they're cheap. (Free is a different matter, of course.)

As for me - 24 days without an ebook purchase! I think I'll make it to December after all!

[joblack]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'm addicted to buying ebooks. My TBR list currently contains about 440 ebooks. It has been two days since I last bought* an ebook.

I'm hoping to get to the end of June (baby steps!) without buying any more ebooks.

You aren't necessarily an e-book adict - you're an information junkie. As long as you're not going into debt and/or your social life suffers you shouldn't be too worried.

And I'm an 'e-book addict' as well but I don't tell how many e-books I bought the last 13 years (hint: it's a for digit number for sure).

Some helpful advise:

If you are an information junkie, don’t despair. You can convert yourself into an information user simply by following two rules:

1. When you buy an information product, set specific deadlines for reading it and implementing what you learn. For instance, set a goal that you will take one of its recommended actions within 24 hours of receiving the product. Then resolve to take at least one more recommended action each week thereafter.

2. Don’t buy another product until you have made some progress with the one you previously purchased.

http://www.earlytorise.com/are-you-a...mation-junkie/

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by joblack

You aren't necessarily an e-book adict - you're an information junkie. As long as you're not going into debt and/or your social life suffers you shouldn't be too worried.

My ebooks are almost entirely fiction. And I don't think I said "e-book addict", but "ebook buying addict". A subtle but important difference!

"Don’t buy another product until you have made some progress with the one you previously purchased" is a bit too harsh for me. It would mean not buying another ebook for about three years. (Having recently organised my books in calibre, I find I'd undercounted my TBR pile. Back when I said it was 440 it was probably closer to 700!)

Anyway - welcome to the thread. If you are also concerned about your TBR pile size, this is the thread for you.